Ruger SP101 22 hammer?

[jski]

I bought the SP101 22 revolver for my wife because it fit her hands better than the S&W 617. BUT the hammer on the SP101 is nearly impossible for my wife to pull back. It's hard for me to pull it back!

It this to be expected?

How do I fix it?

Send it back to Ruger? Return it to the gun shop as defective?

 

[MedWheeler]

It may not be defective, but you could certainly return to the shop with it and ask them what their opinion is, and if they have another to try. Do you still have the 617 (and is it also in .22LR?)

Rimfire revolvers tend to be stiffly sprung, and Rugers a little more so. Have you been able to try the double-action pull yet? I have a Taurus 94 that's kind of hard to draw the hammer back, but I think, in my case, it's because the hammer is 1-2mm shorter than I'd like it to be and I just can't get good purchase on it.

 

[DASHMAN77]

I agree with medwheeler. I work at a gun store and have noticed that same issue with 22 revolvers. I think they are extra stiff to ensure enough force and pressure is delivered for the chemical reaction to take place. Hit up some gun stores that have a SP101 in 22 and compare the hammer. I"m sure you already know not to dry fire a 22 so, squirt some lubrication inside the action and under the grips, grab some empty cases or go to the range with some live rounds and break that sucker in! When I bought my SP101 ( in 357 mag however) I was looking for a replacement front sight and ran across all sorts of spring kits to lighten the trigger and hammer pull. I couldn't tell you if they made any for a 22 variant since I was looking for a sight not trigger kits. If you do decide to send it back to Ruger, they have great customer service and a fairly quick turn around. I bought a P90 or something like that from a guy and he had lost the firing pin ( didn't tell me that when he sold it to me either!). I had to float the bill sending it to ruger but they replaced the firing pin free of charge and gave me a factory new hi-cap magazine because the one I had was an after market 10 rounder. However, you bought it NIB so Ruger should pay for it to be sent to them. If you can't fix the problem, Ruger will make it right.

 

[DPris]

It's not defective, and it IS to be expected, that model has a heavy mainspring for rimfire ignition reliability.

The model really isn't a good choice for kids & others of lesser hand strength.
Some people get slightly better results with a lighter spring, but many also get ignition problems.
An action job can lighten trigger/hammer slightly.

The nature of that gun simply involves a heavy spring.

People SHOULD try it, or have those they buy it for try it, before buying.

Denis

 

[Zaydok Allen]

This is only one of the reasons I got rid of my 22 cal SP101.

Yes, it is to be expected. Rim fire revolvers need a stiffer spring to ignite the primers on a small framed gun.

Do you still have the 617 (and is it also in .22LR?)

I think he was saying he bought the Ruger rather than a 617. Not traded up.

Also, what else would a 617 be chambered in? Were there other variants in 22 mag? I assumed S&W would give it a different model number.

 

[MedWheeler]

460Kodiak, he brought up the 617 with no other provocation, so I had reason to figure his wife had handled one before. He could have simply said "We bought a SP101 in .22LR, and my wife can't draw the hammer..."

Since he brought up no other .22LR revolvers, I figured he/they already had the 617. I also figured, if not, why would they not have looked at a couple of the other choices or, if they had, why were they not mentioned?

Also, for some reason, I was thinking the 617 was also available in .38 Special. Obviously, I was mistaken.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Roger that man. I gotcha.

 

[jski]

I originally ordered the S&W 617 but my wife was taken aback by its heft and size. She was pleasantly surprised by the SP101's size and weight. But when we got home and she began to struggle cocking the beast, I could she it was unpleasant for her to handle.

BTW, to those that say it needs to have such a heavy spring, one question: how is it that the S&W617 has a noticeably lighter spring? Are there problems with 617 failing to ignite the cartridge?

 

[ericuda]

Is it hard to pull back due to the spring or due to the sharpness of the hammer and a little reluctance. Mine has very sharp edges on the hammer and it is very uncomfortable to cock if I dont have perfect thumb placement when cocking.

 

[DPris]

The 617 is a different gun.
You can't say both should perform identically just because they're both smaller-framed .22s.
Denis

 

[Mark 40]

I had read similar comments regarding the SP-101 but went ahead with the purchase anyway. When I picked it up it went directly to the gunsmith for an action job. So I can't say how much better it is now VS out of the box.

Overall I'm happy with it; I'm so used to my LCR 22LR DA that it just seems natural now. Same for the Mrs.

 

[Seven High]

You should consider replacing the trigger return spring with a lighter strength Wolff spring. It helps a lot. Larger grips might also help.

 

[weblance]

I would like to feel the hammers on these guns that people say they cant cock. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but come on... seriously? If your wife truly cant cock the hammer, or manipulate the trigger to get the revolver to fire, what good is it for her to have? I have an SP101-22, my wife has strength issues with her hands, and she has no trouble operating it. I do understand your wife might have more serious issues than my wife.

Perhaps a single action 22 pistol would be a better choice. Something light, and not too small, like a S&W 422, or a Ruger 22/45 LITE. If she cant handle something like that, there isn't anything that she is going to be able to handle. Don't run out and buy her something little and cute, like a Beretta Bobcat, or Ruger SR22, because you will be right back in the same situation. Those guns are Double Action. She also needs something that isn't so small that its difficult to operate.

 

[RugRev]

The 617 should be easier to operate (i.e. lighter action and springs) compared to the SP101 in that it is a medium frame gun and not a small frame. The medium frame allows better leverage and, hence, lighter springs all other things being equal. An action tune and somewhat lighter springs will allow the SP101 to have a bit better trigger but as the spring weight on the mainspring is heavier than the centerfire SP's the trigger will be heavier. If I recall the lightest Wolff mainspring for the new design SP's is 13 lbs vs. 9 lbs for a centerfire. Factoring in leverage and all I would guess the rimfire trigger in double action would be about 3 lbs heavier than a centerfire one.

 

[lincen]

Wolff Gun Springs does sell a reduced power hammer spring for the SP101 in 22lr. Mine was replaced right after it was bought new and has been flawless.